guard 1 of 2

Definition of guardnext
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as in defensive
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in lock
a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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5
as in guide
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps

Synonyms & Similar Words

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guard

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word guard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of guard are defend, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

In what contexts can defend take the place of guard?

The words defend and guard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When can protect be used instead of guard?

While the synonyms protect and guard are close in meaning, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

Where would safeguard be a reasonable alternative to guard?

In some situations, the words safeguard and guard are roughly equivalent. However, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When is shield a more appropriate choice than guard?

The words shield and guard can be used in similar contexts, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

How is the word guard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of guard are defend, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

In what contexts can defend take the place of guard?

The words defend and guard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When can protect be used instead of guard?

While the synonyms protect and guard are close in meaning, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

Where would safeguard be a reasonable alternative to guard?

In some situations, the words safeguard and guard are roughly equivalent. However, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When is shield a more appropriate choice than guard?

The words shield and guard can be used in similar contexts, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of guard
Noun
Consider installing gutter guards or screens, which help block debris from entering while still allowing water through. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026 Install gutter guards or screens. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
On March 26, Stewart appeared on an episode of the Roommates Show podcast, co-hosted by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and his teammate Josh Hart. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026 The vibe of the beach became more guarded, and those who still went were far less glamorous than the old crowd. Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guard
Noun
  • Parents, guardians, aunts and uncles don't have time to read every book on the shelf while trying to pick something for the young reader in their life, so here are some simple ways to determine if a book is suitable for that child.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Hernandez listed herself as Ruben’s guardian or emergency contact in paperwork with North Shore Medical Center, Golden Glades Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Larkin Community Hospital — though Ruben and Carmen were married.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This policy has allowed protectionism to rear its angry head, while his direct criticisms of other nations and their leaders have put many heads of state on the defensive.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
  • On the defensive In courthouses around the country, Abbott and Mead Johnson are on the defensive — and have been for years.
    David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Someone on Harrison Avenue damaged both door lock cylinders on a vehicle while trying to steal it.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Who once set us in the deep a password, lock and mercenary.
    Timmy Straw, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The All-Big 12 defense guard has been a key cog the last two seasons for the Horned Frogs as one of the best defenders in the country.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Amir Levy/Getty Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all activated their air defense systems to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones, as Tehran kept up the pressure on its Gulf neighbors.
    Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The report also found that a guide and client who fell behind due to a ski binding malfunction avoided being caught in the avalanche — and later helped rescue others.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
  • For business owners, Townshend’s bold decision and ensuing success, including among other accolades a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s, offers an instructive guide to self-belief.
    Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That’s impressive production for the 6-foot-2, 234-pound defender.
    Mike Kaye April 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
  • With 33 seconds remaining, after scoring five straight points and in possession of the ball, the Warriors used Curry’s gravity to draw defenders out of the paint, giving Gary Payton II enough space to catch a pass from Draymond Green and put in a layup for a 116-115 lead.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • To protect yourself, property owners can sign up for notifications about any new documents filed for their property in the city's Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS).
    Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Go to the Strait and just take it, protect it.
    James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded Central to the negotiations is Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that, if left blockaded, could continue driving oil prices higher and further destabilizing global energy markets.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Iran retaliating by blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guard. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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